The Sacrificial Bride (Diavolo x Fem!OC)

Chapter 6 - Voiced concerns

To familiarize her with the place she'd be calling home for the days to come, Diavolo guided Lea through the castle's diverse chambers and halls. The Little D.s danced playfully at their feet, accompanying the pair as they navigated through the castle's ornate passageways. After a moment of venturing through the maze-like corridors, they entered a grand hall with a towering ceiling, decorated with stunning chandeliers casting a warm, flickering light.

Lea couldn't help but to stare at the sight in awe; The interior was a grand spectacle of dark ornate designs and otherworldly features, adorned with intricate demon artistry and ancient relics. To her, the grandeur of the castle was overwhelming, making her feel even more like an intruder in this opulent world. But, despite her initial fear and anxiety, she couldn't deny the intriguing aspects of this bizarre world; The dark cloud that had loomed heavily upon Lea that morning was now waning, now replaced with a sense of wonder and anticipation as she explored this mysterious world around her. The creatures and surroundings, though foreign, held a certain dark allure. She wasn't only captivated by the architecture and the art, but also the enchanting yet slightly eerie aura that permeated the castle.

"This place is incredible!" Lea exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. "And huge— I don't know if I even dare to step out of my room on my own, I'm sure I'd get lost in here..!" The vast corridors of the castle seemed to stretch on endlessly, a labyrinth of interconnected rooms and passageways that could easily confound the uninitiated. Diavolo, however, with centuries spent traversing the shadowy halls of his home, could navigate the castle's maze-like layout effortlessly, as though it was imprinted in his very soul.

"Don't worry—" Diavolo reassured her with a comforting smile. "You'll learn your way around the castle in no time. Until you do, we'll make sure to have someone acting as your guide."

"Okay, that sounds good..!" Lea nodded, trying to hide her lingering sense of overwhelment. The promise of assistance eased some of her anxieties about navigating the intricate pathways of the castle, but it would take some time before she'd feel confident enough to explore the place by herself.

As they continued their journey through the castle's chambers, Lea secretly stole glances at the demon prince walking next to her— The atmosphere between the two of them had been relaxed and friendly, but Lea was experiencing a complex mix of emotions while in the presence of Lord Diavolo. His warm and considerate gestures had a calming effect on her, yet the realization of his significant position as the prince of the Devildom kept her somewhat on edge. His regal yet affable demeanor was both captivating and intimidating; She found herself oscillating between feelings of awe, comfort, and a hint of trepidation in his presence.

Despite Diavolo being the future king of this world, there was even a bigger reason for Lea to be wary of him; "I've been so nervous over the fact that he is a royalty that I might even forget that he is a demon..!" Lea scoffed to herself. Standing right there next to her, Lord Diavolo could've easily been mistaken as a human. A strikingly handsome one, even— His chiseled, refined features were hard to ignore, but it was the underlying warmth of his expressions and gestures that Lea found so captivating. Suddenly realizing that she had been secretly staring at the demon prince for a suspiciously long time, Lea quickly averted her eyes from him.

"Looks can be deceiving, though." She reminded herself. Despite his polished guise that mimicked a human appearance, Lea couldn't shake off her unease about Diavolo's true nature as a demon. The demons in Devildom all seemed to bore a semblance to humans, but the first encounter she had with Lord Diavolo in the human world had been a stark revelation of the inhuman qualities these demons possessed. She'd have to remain cautious, aware that she was still treading unknown territories. It was a complex situation she was entangled in, and because of the mysterious spell that bound her to him, Lord Diavolo was in the center of it all.